The weekly sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1886-1887, 1887-01-20

secretary a C6D1neC OHlcer-COn-
gresham Bennett Of North Carolina
Speaks in the Debate on the Mormon
Bill.
Special Correspondence of the Sentinel.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15th.-The
Forty ninth is an industrious Con-
gress, Notwithstanding the fact that
charges Of Incidence have been heap
ed upon it. It is real pity that the
country has to part with it so soon,
and it is one of the worst faults of our
legislative system that about the time
one Congress gets fairly down to
business another steps into its place
and wastes a year or more in getting
a good start. The most important
legislation of the week, so far, is that
creating Department of Agriculture
and Labor and that against the Nor
mons Of Utah. There will now be
Secretary of Agriculture, who will
of course be Cabinet officer, if the
Senate agrees to this change and it
was voted for in the House of Repre-
sentatives by such large majority as
to leave little doubt of its popularity.
Commissioner Coleman, the incum~
bent under the new Administration,
has more than any of his predecessors,
succeeded in impressing upon the pub
lie mind the Importance Of this depart
ment and its capacity for usefulness.
The legislation just accomplished
may be partly considered therefore,
in the nature of a compliment to his
efficient management and the Presi-
dent in looking about for new mem
Der of his cabinet, will have little diff
fculty in finding the right man. The
passage of the bill elevating the Ag-
riculture Department to Executive
Importance, was a very appropriate
celebration of the Farmers Congress
now in session in Washington at the
Agriculture Department. The far
mers have been discussing the propos
ed Interstate commerce bill, so long
pending in the Senate and a majority
of them favor Federal interference
for the protection of the people. A
lively debate was provoked relative to
the long and short haul section and
delegates from the North and South
were opposed to each other as to the
policy which should prevail. The de-
bate took very wide range, but one
sentiment was uppermost with all and
that was that an Interstate Commerce
bill was National necessity.
The most notable debate OF the
week in Congress was that of the
Anti-Polygamy bill. DELEGATE Game,
as the representative of the Mormons,
was attentively listened to first, while
he made long argument in behalf
of his people. He sketched the set
Element of Utah by the Mormons, de-
picted the persecution to which they
had been subjected and eulogized
them tor their industry, intelligence
and honesty. He appealed to the
House to consider well before it as
scented to the propositions contained
in the bill. He said religious bigotry
was arrayed against the Mormons
political necessity, cant hypocrisy and
all kindred PecksniGanism join ed in
the hue and cry. Baseless calumnies,
SANDER and unit igated falsehoods
were constantly di sseminated through
the platform, the pulpit and the press
these mighty engines for the manu-
facture of public sentiment. Mr..
CRANE insisted that time the cor
rector of all evils would right
wrong, if wrong it were; that the fat
of the Eternal had already declared
that the last vestige of Mormonism
shall be swept away by the peaceful
progress of events if it is not fit to
survive. He closed with plea to
the men who had freed the negro
slave from bondage, who loved liberty
and cherished the Institutions of our
country, that they would not consign
his constituents to inhuman slavery.
Representative Bennett OF North
Carolina also believed that the Nor
mon problem will resolve itself
would yield to patient treatment at
the hands of the American people
The bill, he said, did violence to the
basic principles of American govern
ment. Others were drawn into the
discussion and Hon. Randolph Tuck
er, of Va, closed the debate. He
said he did OF care what a Mormon
believed, but he must not put his be-
liefs into acts that infringed the rights
of any other man. Polygamy was a
crime by every state in Christendom.
Ever since Christ interpreted the
Judaic law and gave out "Therefore
shall man leave father and mother
and cleave unto his wife and they
twain" they twain and not q
whole bundle since Christ
uttered that sentiment, all Christian
nations have adopted monogamy."
"What is Congress to dor" contin
ued Mr.. Tucker. "The gentleman
from Utah said, Wait, if we are